Prerequisites of spiritual life

CHENNAI, AUG. 29. When an individual is unaware of the Self (Atman) which is present always, wrong notions arise about himself as he identities with his body-mind-intellect personality. The three basic conclusions drawn as a result of this confusion are: ``I am mortal'', ``I am ignorant'', and ``I am limited''. These assumptions will not matter if the person is happy with his lot, but it is obvious that no one is content in life. Thus there is something fundamentally wrong with this self- identity. There is the vision of the Vedas regarding the Self - that it is the witness of the body-mind-intellect personality. So, the question arises: how do we realise this Vedic vision?

It is obvious that the body which is an aggregate of the elements cannot be the Self which is described in the scriptures as existence, consciousness, bliss and infinite. When one is rooted in this consciousness, liberation is possible ``here'' and ``now''; it is not a future event but is a present fact of experience. As the Vedic teaching appears contradictory to one's notion of oneself the gap has to be bridged by proper means - through scriptural study under a competent preceptor. This involves three stages - listening to the exposition of the texts, reflecting on the teachings for dispelling doubts that may linger and contemplation which leads to the experience of the Self.

In her discourse on the Ashtavakra Gita, Swamini Shraddhanand Saraswati said before undertaking scriptural study the mind of the aspirant must be suitably prepared because even if the teacher was competent, the disciple must be able to grasp Self- knowledge. The scriptures themselves describe the preparatory steps. Of primary importance is developing the discriminative capacity to differentiate between that which is eternal and the transient in the world. If one analyses it becomes apparent that anything which involves action is time-bound, which is true of everything in the world and only the seeker (I) does not fall in this category. It becomes obvious that it is knowledge of the Self (I) which is to be sought.

Next is developing detachment towards that which are temporary in life. This must be consequent to developing the quality of discrimination; otherwise detachment will result because of frustration in life and not out of conviction. Qualities that are essential include control of the senses, mastery over the mind, non-possessiveness, endurance and objectivity in all life situations. Above all, the seeker must have total conviction in the scriptures and the preceptor, and commitment to the goal of liberation till it is realised.

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